More than 270 civil society organisations, trade unions, consumer groups, farmers organisations, civil rights groups and environmental organisations representing millions of citizens, call on European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen to shun deregulation and prioritise the protection of people, nature, and democracy in its decision-making processes. This warning comes ahead of the announcement of the EU Competitiveness Compass, which is supposed to guide the EU’s efforts in enhancing its “economic competitiveness”. In an open letter, the organisations emphasise the critical need for robust and effective regulations to address Europe’s socio-ecological challenges.
Amid concerns about the European Commission’s focus on “competitiveness through simplification”, the signatories warn against the risk of deregulating vital EU social, environmental, democracy and human rights protections. While simplifying procedures can improve efficiency, they stress that prioritising the narrow interests of businesses over the public interest is neither acceptable nor sustainable as an economic strategy. EU and national laws and regulations are designed to protect citizens, workers and the environment, and should not be dismissed as “red tape” or “administrative burdens”.
Signatories of the joint letter initiated by Climate Action Network Europe, Corporate Europe Observatory, European Environmental Bureau, European Public Service Union, European Trade Union Confederation and Friends of the Earth Europe call on the Commission to provide guarantees against the rollback of social and environmental standards and for clear regulatory standards to guide a just and green transition at both EU and national levels.
Jan Willem Goudriaan of the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) said:
“Workers are concerned that the European Commission’s simplification will be a setback to pay transparency, corporate social responsible due diligence and social, environmental and tax conditionalities. Regulations are key for Europe’s people to have clean water, quality care and public services underpinning Social Europe.”
Kim Claes, corporate capture campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe, commented:
“Deregulation weakens social and environmental protection with devastating costs. Recent tragedies like the devastating floods in Valencia show the price of weak enforcement and dismantled protective systems. Robust rules are vital to safeguard lives, the environment, and ensure a fair and green transition that works for people.”
Olivier Hoedeman, coordinator at Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), added:
“Von der Leyen’s deregulation agenda is a corporate dream come true: reopening already agreed EU laws will give corporate lobby groups new opportunities to weaken social and environmental standards in laws that they dislike.“
This collective action sends a clear message: Europe’s path to progress lies in prioritising the welfare of its citizens and ecosystems, ensuring a thriving and inclusive future for all and not a race to the bottom where “simplification” is undoing the European Social model.
